Originally published at: http://boingboing.net/2017/06/01/through-the-circle.html
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Saw the comic, thought “what a sassy-looking character for ‘Family Circus.’ I hope she’s a regular.”
Didn’t make the Barry connection.
Thumbs up for Jeffy Keane.
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Seems like if you want to meet Jeff Keane, it would be pretty easy to find him…you just follow the dashed line he leaves behind him, right?
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This clip from Go (1999) summarizes how I feel about the comic.
But I have to admit this is a touching story.
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One of the greatest things I’ve ever witnessed in my life was a double-feature talk. First up: Lynda Barry talks about drawing as a necessary therapy for humans. The chaser was Tony Millionaire recalling diseased moments from his debauched young adulthood. I think we all learned something about cartoonists on that day.
I recommend that you check out Lynda telling this story about Family Circus – the TED Talk will do – in full color.
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I work at NASA Goddard and she was a guest lecturer here about a year ago; that was one of the things she talked about. (Actually it was the day that Prince died, but I don’t think anyone knew, yet.) I’m hoping they’ll bring her back!
EDIT: Also, I’m pretty sure I saw this at BB in the first place:
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I love Lynda Barry so much, and her longstanding affection for The Family Circus makes me want to hug her. She’s brilliant.
That said… “feels”… ugh…
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Never heard about the Lynda Barry / Family Circus talk. I know her family was a major shit-show.
Barry gave a talk at . . . Powell’s, maybe? . . . about ten years ago. Really great, multi-media thing. I ordered a CD of her NPR segments and other material; came in a manila envelope with stickers and sparkle-ink hearts, as though some 12 year old girl had sent it. Of course I kept it!
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That’s why if you say a word against Family Circus to me if I’ve had a few drinks I will slug you so hard.
Challenge accepted.
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I saw Lynda Barry read once too. She brought candy for the audience, and threw it in big handfuls at random times during the reading. It was great.
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It always seemed to me like The Lockhorns or Marmaduke – a one frame comic that seemed to be in all the papers out of tradition or something. I can’t imagine feeling a strong feeling one way or the other about them – The Far Side they ain’t.
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It makes me sad that Bil Keane didn’t name his son Jef.
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Exactly. Like most newspaper comics, it looks like something from a bygone era, and too treacly for me to stomach most of the time.
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Well, as Lynda is basically saying, treacly can seem pretty nice when your own family (as revealed in her book ONE! HUNDRED! DEMONS!) is a constantly panic-inducing shitshow.
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It can seem nice, but my reaction was different. More like, “ugh, normal people. I’m supposed to care why?” I don’t begrudge anyone who felt differently from me though. Everyone is different.
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Yeah. I’m certainly not about to defend the Circle’s valorization of white-bread heteronormative family life.
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Me either, but I understand those who do.
I’m more Fun Home than Family Circus myself.
I never liked Family Circus, but it doesn’t surprise me terribly that Lynda Barry does, and somehow I respect her even more for it.
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Oh sure, Fun Home is amazing. And oh, to live in a society where Family Circle sits in the daily papers right next to Dykes to Watch Out For!
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Add in Something Positive and Cat and Girl, and I’ll buy a subscription to that newspaper!
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